The Load Was Enormous; the Bridge Was Low

Update on the wind turbine blade accident:

Initial investigations indicate the tractor trailer was not far enough into the left lane when navigating under the train trestle, resulting in the crash. The blade, mounted on large brackets, struck the trestle, causing the rollover.… pic.twitter.com/SCUS2ZXNsK

— Maine State Police (@MEStatePolice) August 9, 2024

Wind turbines are being installed all over the US, while the factories that make them are few. Transporting those enormous turbine blades is a real hassle. Taking them around curves and intersections required the invention of new machinery. But going under low bridges remains a challenge.

On Friday, a 240-foot blade was being taken to Columbia, Maine, when it hit a bridge over Route 1 in Stockton Springs. The collision overturned the truck and damaged the blade. No one was injured, but Route 1 was closed for the rest of the day. The blade will was returned Saturday to a cargo terminal in Searsport, Maine, where it was shipped in. The Boston Globe uses the term "storrowed," which is a unique Boston word for trucks hitting a bridge, explained in a previous post.

What do you do with a damaged turbine blade? They are made of fiberglass and resin, and were once considered impossible to recycle. But new technology is turning them into other building materials.  -via Metafilter